The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for hydroformylation and a method of preparing an aldehyde using the same. More specifically, the present invention provides a catalyst composition for hydroformylation including a specific phosphite-based ligand and a transition metal compound in a specific amount range, thereby being capable of greatly lowering a use amount of an expensive transition metal compound and exhibiting excellent catalyst activity or stability. In addition, by using the catalyst composition in hydroformylation, excellent reaction efficiency may be provided and iso-aldehyde may be generated in high yield.

A one-step process for hydroformylation of olefins can include iron-catalyzed hydroformylation of olefins. The process can result in the conversion of olefin in the range of 40 to 99%. A reaction mixture includes iron precursor, ligand, substrate and solvent. The reaction mixture can be pressurized with syngas (CO/H.sub.2) under constant stirring to obtain a desired aldehyde compound. The ligand can be a monodentate ligand of a phosphines or a phosphite, and the iron precursor can be [HFe(CO).sub.4].sup..

Processes to prepare lightly branched surfactant products comprise combining at least one olefin and a coordination-insertion catalyst under conditions such that at least one oligomer product is formed. The surfactant products comprise a main carbon chain containing an average of between 0.5 and 2.5 branches, wherein more than 50% of the branches are ethyl branches, wherein the branches are located more than one carbon away from each end of the main carbon chain in more than 20% of surfactant product molecules.

Process for hydroformylation of olefins using Pt and bromine.

Process for hydroformylation of olefins using Pt and DPEphos.

A process for selectively producing 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde from allyl alcohol is described. The process comprises reacting allyl alcohol with a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst system comprising a rhodium complex and a trans-1,2-bis(bis(3,4,5-tri-n-alkylphenyl)phosphinomethyl)-cyclobutane. The process gives high yield of 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde compared to temperature.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bisphosphite compound giving higher selectivity for the target product with maintaining a high reaction rate. The present invention relates to a dihydroxybiphenyl compound represented by the following formula (1) and a bisphosphite compound represented by the following formula (2): ##STR00001##
wherein in formulae (1) and (2), each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.11 to R.sup.14, and Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.4 is the same as defined in the description.

The present invention relate to processes for converting olefins to alcohols, ethers, or combinations thereof that are suitable for use as a gasoline additive. In one embodiment, the process comprises (a) receiving a feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises one or more olefins having 2 to 5 carbon atoms in an amount of up to 80% by weight based on the weight of the feed stream; (b) hydroformylating the feed stream in the presence of a catalyst to convert at least 80% of the olefins from the feed stream to oxygenates; (c) separating a product stream from step (b) into an oxygenate stream and a stream comprising unreacted olefins, inerts, the catalyst, and the remaining oxygenates; and (d) treating the oxygenate stream to convert a plurality of the oxygenates into at least one of an alcohol, an ether, or combinations thereof is suitable for use as a gasoline additive.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bisphosphite compound giving higher selectivity for the target product with maintaining a high reaction rate. The present invention relates to a dihydroxybiphenyl compound represented by the following formula (1) and a bisphosphite compound represented by the following formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in formulae (1) and (2), each of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, R.sup.11 to R.sup.14, and Z.sup.1 to Z.sup.4 is the same as defined in the description.

A one-step process for hydroformylation of olefins can include iron-catalyzed hydroformylation of olefins. The process can result in the conversion of olefin in the range of 40 to 99%. A reaction mixture includes iron precursor, ligand, substrate and solvent. The reaction mixture can be pressurized with syngas (CO/H.sub.2) under constant stirring to obtain a desired aldehyde compound. The ligand can be a monodentate ligand of a phosphines or a phosphite, and the iron precursor can be [HFe(CO).sub.4].sup..